By Richard Hargraves.

I would really like to start a report with, “Full steam ahead!” but I am afraid this is still not the case. Library supply is a case of stop, start and return to the start with reams of paperwork in between. Always have twenty sets of original and certified documents on hand at all times is my advice to people wondering how to break into the market which one would think a very strange requirement. It is an administrative nightmare and ensures you to have a good collection of rubber stamps.

As library suppliers our main concern, besides diminishing budgets, is of Supply Chain Management (SCM) and its involvement in the procurement of books. We are not against their involvement but we do have an issue in their lack of understanding as to the nature of books and the uniqueness of the product and its supply routes.

Libraries are knowledge centres and people are on the lookout for the latest offerings, be it fiction or non-fiction, and any delays in the acquisition of books, infrequent purchasing of product or limited purchasing could change the habits of some library users and render libraries redundant to some as people might look elsewhere to access the books they require. Not understanding the nature of the book and its supply routes ultimately affects the supply of the books to the library.

A brief breakdown of the main book purchasers in the different provinces in no specific order:

University Libraries

University Libraries country wide are under extreme pressure with budgets due to the #FeesMustFall movement. Unfortunately library budgets and, therefore, suppliers will be part of the collateral damage so expect some hard times if involved here.

Western Cape
This is one province with a level of consistency so there is no major development to report.

• City of Cape Town: Tenders were submitted for the new three year cycle and are being adjudicated.
• Provincial Library: Ongoing purchasing of approval copies.

Eastern Cape

• Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality:
  The tender was adjudicated and it has its panel of suppliers. Quotations are offered and the winning bids supply.
• Eastern Cape Provincial Library:
  New documents had to be submitted and we wait the outcome of this. They are in limbo for the moment.

Northern Cape

Approval copies have been sent and quotations done and redone but still no word of orders. Apparently they are still sitting with SCM.

Free State

• Provincial Library: Only procures from local (Free State based) suppliers. This is being queried and if necessary it will have to be challenged as to whether this is enforceable. To my knowledge an advantage can be give to local suppliers but the complete banning of suppliers that operate outside the province is questionable.

KwaZulu-Natal

• Provincial Library: They are procuring again after a brief hiatus. Purchasing is done of approval submissions of fifty books per supplier.
• Ethekwini Metro Libraries: The tender is ongoing with its suppliers.

Mpumalanga

The provincial government has its panel of suppliers and exhibitions are done. The last exhibition was in May and suppliers were told they had to supply by the end of June. The suppliers are still awaiting their orders from the exhibition. Limpopo Limpopo has their preferred suppliers and exhibitions are held from which books are ordered.

Gauteng

This constitutes dealing with all the individual municipalities as Gauteng Provincial Library does not procure directly. I will cover the main buyers.

• Johannesburg Libraries: The original three year tender was discontinued and a new tender had to be submitted. It is being adjudicated.
• Tshwane: They have called for a submission of 300 books from their preferred suppliers.
• Ekurhuleni: They use their preferred suppliers from the three year tender.
• Mogale city: They have frequent exhibitions with suppliers approved off the tender where they spend their limited budget.

North West

North West has their panel of suppliers from the tender and one submission was done a few months ago. Orders have yet to materialise.

As you can see from the brief report above we are not quite full steam ahead but we have not hit an iceberg either. It is mid-year where one often drifts in the doldrums due to the timing of budgets. The inconsistent nature of library supply does make it a challenge to run a fully staffed and full service business as one can find themselves waiting for the spike that may not come. In summary I would say that library supply is for the brave, the foolish or the experienced.